#And yes the cameraman also Cater | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sociieties · 1 year

Text

@tenacityreturns: ever since the photoshoot, kagami has felt off. a little thoughtful, a little icky, and it's starting to bother him. maybe it should not have taken this long to get upset considering kise is his boyfriend now and what have you, but he's there now and that's what matters. contextually, physically, they're at kagami's apartment: kitchen: retrieving snacks, by the way. when he speaks, it's sincerely, gesturing with his can on coke. "i think modelling must be harder than it looks. apart from, y'know, taking pictures and shit," which is hard enough! "not sure i'd like if some old bastard behind the camera started listing 'flaws' he wanted me to hide. that kinda thing doesn't bother you?"

today wasn't one of the best days, but it also wasn't the worst. it wasn't even close to one of his worst days. he'd know. he knows. and yet, it was still bad enough to know that the cameraman's frustration both was and wasn't with kise. whatever, it happens. he doesn't let it get to him, not really. he lets it slide because this isn't the usual person, but a quick sub that'd come in because people had gotten sick or something. he doesn't know, doesn't really care, just hopes that he either has to do nothing with this particular magazine again, or at least that the guy would be in a better mood if they ever had to meet again.

click / flash! click / flash! ' kise. ' he moves subtly, this time leaning more into the couch. click / flash! kise can hear the man grumbling even from their distance. ' look alive. ' he's looking alive, actually! he's been keeping his nerve, refusing to allow his eyebrow to twitch despite the irritation he's built up because of the camera man. click / flash! his weight is shifted forward, arms rested just before his knees and he looks forward. not at the camera ( you never look at the camera ), but through it. ' hair, ' someone calls and two people rush to set to perfectly place strangely stubborn locks down where they need to be. ' okay. ' they scatter. click / flash! someone clicks their teeth and before he knows it, he's surrounded again, someone throws lipstick on him. ( it's nude, hardly noticeable, but they all know. ) again, it's just him on the set. click / flash! ' perfect. ' finally.

kise then moves to stand ( click / flash! click / flash! click / flash! as he does so ), he rounds the couch and stands at the armrest. click / flash! ( it's a wonder he's never been blinded by all the flashing, but maybe it's because he's used to it. ) ' did you gain weight? ' yes, actually. technically. " i've been working out for basketball. " ' i can tell. ' kise wants to scream. he sees someone roll their eyes. he wants to scream. he smiles, it's as real as it is fake, but it's perfect and nobody can say anything. click / flash! ' spectacular. ' the focus of this shoot is, more than anything else, about the shirt. he leans in, one hand on the armrest and the other sits on the back of the couch. someone comes and undoes the top button and he feels — click / flash! gaze flickers over to kagami in the corner. ' if you get any bigger — ' don't say it ' you'll look disproportionate. ' not true, but for the clothes he's modelling, it's true. this particular brand was supposed to cater to slimmer people. ( as per usual, really. ) ' you're pushing it, kise-kun. ' he is not going to drop his basketball career for this one magazine. he is not going to compromise his training regime for one magazine. he does not like this brand that much. you're pushing it, kise-kun. stop gaining weight, you'll look ugly. same thing. " i'll keep that in mind. " click / flash! and the shoot continues with picking and prying and being pulled apart by various people.

the last parts of the one sided conversation ring loud in his mind when kagami brings up how he thinks modeling is probably harder than he originally thought. that much was true, but it was also something he wasn't exactly sure he really wanted to let kagami in on yet. and of course, he catches on in one of the worst ways possible. this would have happened eventually, he knows. it's not like this was the first time kagami's been present for one of his shoots. usually, however, they're much better than that. disproportionate. for working out? he feels sick / blinks and looks to his boyfriend with a smile. " i'm used to it. " just as he's used to lying. " come here, " he murmurs, closing their distance and resting his head on kagami's shoulder. one arm naturally slinks around waist, fingers curling into warm fabric. " what they say doesn't bother me. " he'll be dropped from one of the magazines and no one will bat a lash / it'll happen because he'll continue sculpting himself for basketball until he graduates. he doubts he'll even make it into the upcoming release. " i have it easy compared to some people. " his agency is good to him, they love him, but sometimes these things happen. sometimes it's worse. usually better, but sometimes worse. he's forgotten his chips, abandoned them at the counter and when he raises his head, kise doesn't even think to look for them anymore. if you get any bigger — he will, actually. " are you worried about me? " he knows the answer is some version of yes / he doesn't let kagami respond, instead plants a short kiss on his lips before pulling away entirely. " don't be, it's just one magazine and it's not like it's my only feature, i have plenty. different people say different things because they want different things. it can't be helped. " " now, " he wants another kiss so he steals another one / steals kagami's coke as well before playfully stepping away. does it again when kagami reaches for his drink / again / again / watching his boyfriend reach and gain nothing brings him joy and he can't help but to laugh over this. " there's better things to think about, like what we're going to do tomorrow; riko said you have to take a break, right? let's go on a date. "

#there is more to life; ! answered #kise ryota // ic #❥ x kagakise . tenacityreturns #tenacityreturns #tw body image issues #*loses my fucking mind bc of the formatting. stares into the sun.*

2 notes · View notes

britishassistant · 3 years

Note

First time Cater meet Yuu, he probably followed them on magicam and he just kept tabs on the, then one day realizes through a few posts realizing that damn, this newspaper job doesn’t even cover dental insurance. And then then next day Royal Flush’s second in command floods yuu’s office building with tea or something because for the sake of the seven, give your employees some dental insurance. Yuu then gets sent a basketful of dental hygiene supplies and a Royal Flush ™ toothbrush lol

Thank you for the ask, dear anon!

It’s just self-preservation at first. The reporter doesn’t post on Magicam often, but any scrap of info Cater can gather could be the difference between Royal-kun’s scheme of the week getting ruined or going off without a hitch. Riddle is also happier whenever he has an excuse to kidnap Yuu, so it’s Cater’s job to be eagle-eyed enough to find the “rule-breaking” to justify said urge.

(He most certainly doesn’t spend a while scrolling through the pictures of their parents’ many, many dogs in their archive, cooing at all the good boys and girls and liking an inordinate number of the posts. Certainly not. That would be unprofessional, and Cay-kun is never anything but professional~!)

But then there’s small details that slip through when Yuu posts while on the job. Never anything explicitly complaining about the conditions of their office, nothing that could get them called in by HR, but little snippets that niggle at the part of Cater’s brain that appreciate the work benefits he’s blessed with.

They post a picture of an older woman smiling in a somewhat pained manner at the camera while that well-built cameraman throws up a peace sign in the background with the caption: “Congrats and good luck on your wisdom teeth op tomorrow @TWSTBossLady!! Fight on!! (ง'̀-'́)ง”

Ace is poking fun at the fact that Yuu is celebrating a simple matter like this in the comments. Yuu scolds him to be nice, saying that it took a while for their boss to save up for the operation and so it’s worthy of celebration. They seem very protective of their superior.

Deuce asks why their boss would be the one needing to save up for a thing like that, doesn’t their workplace dental cover it?

Yuu shoots back a discreetly worded text that boils down to “must be nice to have a job that provides dental and healthcare insurance”.

Cater has to reread it several times just to be sure he’s not misinterpreting anything.

He goes and looks up what workplace unions the TWST news station falls under the purview of, and sucks in his teeth at the records of an angry looking man, who the company website id’s as Yuu’s superior’s superior, passing several rules that means any and all attempts to unionize will basically result in an instant firing. Their HR department is worryingly understaffed too...

Then Cater goes to find Trey-kun.

He knows that guy’s gonna want in on this.

Riddle scolds them both a lot when it’s done, but it doesn’t nearly have the heat of when he’s really mad.

He seems more judgy that they flooded the news station with green tea rather than any other kind, though Trey-kun said that was the ideal tea for dealing with oral bacteria and so would send the message best.

Either the big angry boss man gives his employees dental, or they let him stew in the tea that’s been rising outside his office for a while now. It’s entirely his choice to sign the new policies, and everyone else is safely out of the building thanks to one of his clones setting off the fire alarm.

Royal appreciates it much more once Yuu calls in a panic to know what it will take to get him to stop “his” scheme on their workplace, slipping into his “yes I am an evil supervillain who planned this all along look at me and be awed” mode.

Chen’ya saves the day, eventually, but not until after the big angry boss man has signed the papers, and the hero strongly recommends he not try to overturn the decision he’s made unless he’s ready for retaliation of the nyasty kind from the supervillains. Even that annoying cat can have his uses sometimes, Cater supposes.

It’s Ace’s idea to send the reporter a “care package” of dental care stuff as a reminder of this little adventure. Trey-kun takes care of the contents, and Deuce-kun runs it over to their apartment before the reporter can get back.

Cater can’t help but crack up at the post of Yuu barely hiding their amusement as they hold up a toothbrush with Royal’s face and insignia stamped all over it, with a caption that asks if they’re supposed to read anything into this.

He comments, “Dental hygiene is important, Yuu-chan! 😌😘♦️”

#ask #twisted wonderland #twst #supervillain au #cater diamond #twst cater #trey clover #twst trey #ace trappola #twst ace #deuce spade #twst deuce #riddle rosehearts #twst riddle #royal flush #twst chenya #chenya #twisted wonderland yuu #twst yuu

135 notes · View notes

ineloqueent · 4 years

Text

take my word for it

Platonic!Freddie Mercury x Reader

synopsis: Freddie says that ‘minding your own business’ doesn’t count as working. he’d rather you help him get out of this interview instead.

warnings: swearing

word count: 1.2k

a/n: i hope this is (sort of..?) what you wanted, dear anon!

⭒

12th of July, 1986

It was a busy day as part of the Queen crew.

As assistant to Phoebe, who managed wardrobe, you had a lot to do, because often, Phoebe was off with Freddie doing god knows what, and though you loved them both dearly, their absences quite often left you with the bulk of the work.

And today more so than ever, because tonight… Well, tonight was the Wembley show.

You’d been with Queen since sometime during the early ‘80s, but it was all such a maelstrom of gigs and press conferences and recording sessions that it was difficult to remember when it had all begun.

Short of Live Aid, this was proving to be the most stressful day of your life.

Everybody else seemed to agree, rushing about the place like they were preparing for a visit from royalty— which, alright, they sort of were. This was Queen, after all.

But there was more shouting and swearing than normal, and everywhere you looked, there were amps and loose leads, and lightning rigs hanging halfway down from the ceiling, soundboards covered in masking tape riddled with Sharpie scrawl, guitar cases and boxes labelled ‘drums’, crates and bags with the boys’ names on them, and in the midst of it all, Freddie leaning against a wall, smoking, and completely unperturbed by the chaos around him.

Freddie Mercury.

He thrived a little bit on chaos, you thought.

But then a man— one you did not recognise as part of either crew or catering staff— approached the singer, and Freddie straightened up, stubbing out his cigarette before promptly lighting another. He always did that when he thought he would be talking to someone for longer than he wanted to. You’d noticed. He always did it, before interviews.

Oh shit. It was an interviewer, who’d just approached him.

Despite the impression of those who did not know him well, Freddie was an inherently shy person, who revelled in the freedom his music gave him, because it allowed him to express himself without being inhibited by his introversion. But he did not like prying souls, as this man appeared to be, and he liked interviews even less.

He was looking for an escape, even before the interviewer pulled out his notebook and pen, before the accompanying cameraman popped the videotape into the camera, his fingers tapping against his trouser leg while his other hand fiddled excessively with the cigarette.

You wondered how the two of them had even gotten into the backstage area, with the extremity of the security measures in place today, and without Freddie having expected them to be there.

Then he spotted you.

“Y/N!” he beckoned to you.

Your eyes widened, and for a moment, you thought you might get away with ducking down the clothing rack you’d been rearranging. As much as you would have liked to help Freddie out of his sticky situation, you didn’t greatly enjoy the idea of getting involved with interviewers yourself.

You shook your head, but Freddie nodded emphatically, and when his two assailants spotted you, there was no longer any way out.

You bit your lip. Then you made your way over to Freddie and company, and Freddie pulled your arm through his, at once discarding his second cigarette.

“Hello darling,” he said brightly.

“And who might this be?” asked the interviewer as the cameraman switched on his camera.

Freddie smiled sweetly. “Moral support. Never go anywhere without it.”

He winked at you, and you tried not to roll your eyes.

“I’m going to get you for this, later,” you muttered.

“Oh, I know you will,” he responded amicably, barely moving his mouth as he spoke, to avoid the interviewer or the tape picking up on any of it. “But for now, you’re stuck with me.”

“So, the great Freddie Mercury,” the interviewer, whose name tag proclaimed ‘Mark’, began.

You fought the urge to roll your eyes, and Freddie narrowed his eyes.

“Yes, well,” Freddie laughed, “I rather prefer ‘legendary’, if you don’t mind, dear.”

Mark balked. “Right, uh—”

“Are we going to be here all day? Come on, I know you have questions. Ask away. We’ve got a show to prepare for!”

Freddie squeezed your arm, and you nodded somberly.

“Right. Yes. Well. There have been some rumours in the press about—”

“They’re all true,” said Freddie.

“What—”

“Every single one of them. I’ve done everything.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think you—”

Freddie turned to you. “Isn’t that right, Y/N?”

“Oh yes,” you assured the utterly confused interviewer. “Everything under the sun. He wouldn’t be legendary if he hadn’t.”

Freddie directed another angelic smile at Mark. “Next question,” he said.

“Oh. Right. Well.” Mark flipped through his notebook in a frantic manner, and Freddie winked at the cameraman. “Uh… People want to know—”

“I’m sure they do.”

“People want to know what you like best about being in the music industry..?”

Freddie scoffed. “Why, the music of course. If I hated our music, I’d have quit a long time ago.”

“Of course,” Mark nodded, as though he had a handle on the situation.

He very obviously did not.

Minutes of questioning, tried and failed, went by, and you and Freddie grew increasingly smug and giggly. Freddie was nothing if not professional, in both music and in deflection tactics. He could charm a zebra into dancing if it meant that he would be left alone.

Finally, exhausted, Mark addressed you.

“Y/N,” he all but sighed. “What do you do? Assuming you even work for Queen...”

The poor man was quite drained of energy. But still, you couldn’t find it in you to feel sorry for him, because he really was incredibly nosy in his questions.

“I run the wardrobe department,” you said, managing to keep a straight face, though Freddie bit back a laugh.

Mark frowned. “Okay…”

“Serves Phoebe right for not turning up to work on time,” you muttered to Freddie, and this time, he really did laugh, throwing his head back in a raucous cackle, as though someone had tickled his sides.

Mark eyed you disbelievingly. “Do you really manage wardrobe?” he said.

“Of course.” A slow grin spread across your face. “Take my word for it.”

Freddie sputtered again, and within moments, Mark and his cameraman had disappeared from the premises.

You laughed. “That was actually kind of fun.”

“It was a bit, wasn’t it?” Freddie said, smilingly shaking his head. “Now, don’t tell the others, but you’re my favourite roadie.”

You peered at him skeptically. “I don’t know if I believe that, Fred.”

Freddie’s eyes twinkled.

“Take my word for it,” he said.

You shoved him and he laughed with you until the sky began to dim, and Brian and John and Roger and Phoebe turned up and demanded to know where the two of you had been for the whole of the day.

Drinks and storytelling thus ensued, and short of Live Aid, though this day had proved to be one of the most stressful of your life, it had also proved to be one of the best.

#tina's 300 sleepover #tina's writing #platonic!freddie mercury x reader

50 notes · View notes

dhroovnanda · 3 years

Text

THE COLOSSAL TAKEOVER

This era has been an era of trends. With every phase, some trend has taken over the entire globe till it has been replaced by a new one. Since the past decade, the phenomenon of changing trends has seen a tremendous acceleration with the involvement of more and more people all across. Among these, there has been one trend of all trends, the one that has taken everyone by storm and is continuously growing at an exponential pace.

Wonder what are we talking about? Well, it's the trend started by 'musical.ly,' carried on by TikTok, until last year 'Instagram Reels' and many other apps finally took over to successfully continue the legacy!

Making videos was always a trend since the time of YouTube but these applications gave YouTube a push as well, attracting unimaginable traffic to these platforms. Nowadays, people have made 'video-making' their full-time profession and the amount of hard work put in by them is insane.

Benefits of following this trendy profession:

Social media is one of the most powerful tools for reaching people globally by being in a single place. Gradually, every person has gotten aware of the magic of social media and has associated himself with the same. Today, the number of active users on social media (3.81 billion) has almost touched half of the total population on Earth (7.7 billion). This is enough to state the amount of engagement that can be obtained on social media.

Some other benefits also include:

There can be a lot of revenue through these sources if you form a strong follower-base. Revenues can be in the form of paid collaborations, influencer marketing, YouTube paid advertisements, etc.

You get to create a network of your own which can be of great help throughout life.

A lot of new doors open through social media in every sector.

Now the biggest question is what is the major equipment for shooting a video?

Well, yes it's the camera obviously but creating an impactful video requires more than just a camera. In recent times, TRIPODS has emerged to be the highest selling product in the market besides cameras. Most people do not have any cameraman with them so tripods are self-sufficient to provide them the support they require.

Tripods come in many forms catering to every need, be it vlogging or normal videos. Every creator, small or big, uses a tripod nowadays. It would not be wrong to term Tripods & supports as the BACKBONE of video-making today.

Now, where to buy from? Buying a good quality tripod can serve your purpose for a large period of time so looking at an online marketplace is definitely recommended! The best advantage is that you will find every product of your need here which will reduce your efforts in searching elsewhere.

Platforms like eBay can also be a great option. You can even figure out a way to sell online and make profits doing the same.

What else would you require from a single site?

Just a simple click to get you started if you are an interested buyer or seller!

#tripods #tripodstand #sell #onlinemarketing #truegether

1 note · View note

edyacouky · 4 years

Text

Diamonds are Hood best friends

Here just a silly thing I wrote. I hope you will like it.

Have a nice day everybody :D

Can be read on AO3

~*~

Jason is stressed in his kitchen. He has so much to do and so little of time. He should have refuse. Why did he accept do it is beyond him.

“What are you making? Roy asks him when he comes search for glass of water

-A mess. Jason groans. And don’t come near the food with your dirty hand.

-You were used to love my dirty hand. Roy dramatically gasps. What happen to us?”

But Jason doesn’t even smile. He keeps cooking like the food is some kind of annoying opponent who have to purpose to destroy his life.

“This bad. Roy said more seriously now. You know we can always cancel it. We could say we have an emergency while the true is it would you and me on our couch eating fast food and watching a movie.

-It’s not like we could cancel it forever. So do that now to get rid of it.

-It’s just a family dinner, Jaybird. Not the end of the word.

-It’s our family dinner. I am sure something will go wrong. I will bungle the dish. Or Bruce and Oliver will yell at each other. Or they will be yelling at us.

-Like hell I will let them do that at our home.”

Roy sight when Jason still frowns with worry eyes. Of course, Roy saw that this last day Jason was shaken by having the Batfamily and the Arrowfamily in the same time at their home. Hell, Jason was shaken since their relationship was known by their family.

It is not like they were hiding it, or Roy doesn’t think it was something they did, but their “good” relationship with members of their family was still new.

Honestly without the cameraman who not only stole the moment Arsenal kissed an injury Red Hood after a battle, but also decide to share it on social network, they will have keep that for them.

“You should have deny or not answer their call. Jason said with despair

-It’s that so bad that they know about us.

-I don’t know. Things were just so perfect before they knew, you know?

-Are you afraid that they will not approve.

-Maybe.

-Would that change anything if they didn’t approve?

-I don’t know. Jason confesses with guilt. You know how I can get because of them.

-I know. Roy admits. As much as you should know you can’t get rid of me.”

Roy keeps his reassuring smile while he catch Jason’s belt to making him come closer to him. He enlaces Jason, putting his hands on his lower back.

“I will never let you let me leave. I promise I'm not lying. Go ahead ask anybody who has seen me trying. I'm not going, if it seems like I did I'm probably waiting outside. Roy starts to song while kissing Jason neck

-I always thought that this song was about a dangerous stalker.

-But the melody is nice.”

Jason doesn’t contradict him and finally start to smile. Roy puts on of his hand on Jason’s cheek, his thumb caressing his cheekbone.

Tenderly, slowly, they kiss. Jason relax in his lover’s arms and trust him when he said that he will never let Jason waste what they have because of some of his insecurity. They know each other to well to not know how deal with each other bullshit.

“Did you put grease everywhere on my face?

-Maybe.

-Jeez Roy. I tell you not put your dirty hand anywhere from the food.

-Oh, Jaybird, I know that I eat you out a lot but you’re still a human being.

-God you’re the worst.” Jason laughs

~*~

“It’s really ok we all come? Oliver asks again to Dinah when they get in the MPV

-Again. Dinah sight while she secure little Robert. Jason said it was only fair since there will be seven members of his family.

-How much are we going to be?

-Again. Dinah and all the children said

-We are seven, they are seven, plus Roy and Jason, we will be sixteen. Dinah answer

-Ok. Ok. I understand I should still be quiet. It’s just I can’t believe they have the room to do a dinner for sixteen. And did Roy said that Jason cook the dinner tonight?

-Yes, he did. Cynthia sings song. Roy gives me cupcake made by Jason once. They were delicious.

-Sound like a lot of work for one person.

-Not everyone have a multibillion dollar to buy an army of domestic so they can be lazy. Connor Hawke jokes

-Well, Roy and Jason aren’t poor. Dinah defend. Even if you only count clean money, Roy gains more than enough with his inventions.

-Ah! So they could have used a caterer.

-Don’t start say thing like that. Dinah warns him. They will think you judge them. Connor Lance-Queen, stop immediately to bother Olivia.

-And don’t start to scream, young man. Or you will see what your mother will do.” Oliver adds severely

Dinah gives him an unimpressive look before she only sighs.

~*~

“Why do I have to come?

-Damian. Bruce said

-What? You accepted this invitation without ask us if we agree.

-Not untrue. Tim whispers gaining a punch in his chest from Cassandra

-Be nice, Little D. Dick request him. It’s the first time that Littlewing invite us for a family dinner. It would be nice if it wasn’t the last too.

-Why? Cite one of our family dinner who end well. Damian reclaims

-Oh! N°726. That’s their apartment! Dick exclaims, ignoring Damian’s last remark

-Why didn’t he answer the question? Duke asks. What should I expect from this?

-Everything will be fine. Bruce said going to open the door but Alfred stops him

-I raise you better than that Master Bruce.” He scolds him while knocking on the door

They wait a few seconds where Bruce’s children make fun of his bad manner, before Jason opens them.

“Hi, glad you could make it.” Jason said to them by automatism

Not that he wasn’t really happy to have them in his home, but he becomes nervous again. Roy’s family was already there and for the moment everything was fine.

But when life doesn’t fuck up with Jason?

“Master Jason, you look really elegant. Alfred compliments him

-Thank you, Alfie. You’re awesome as ever.”

As stupid as he may sound, his family realizes only now how important this dinner was for Jason. He seems really nervous and not only he did a big effort in his outfit, but when they enters the apartment they see that he put a lot of work on the decoration and the dishes.

“Hey guys and girl! Roy smiles at them. Good to see you.

-Good to see you to Roy. Dick answers hugging him

-Gladly to be there. Damian even said after a pointy look from Cassandra.

-Well, come have a seat. We have just started the aperitif. Do you want drink something?”

They sit at the table, only place in their apartment where everyone can seat, and start eating, drinking and talking.

At first everyone acts like they tread on thin ice, they didn’t know what to say to prevent any conflict. Eventually, the younger ones were more at the ease and help the adult to relax.

“I am just saying that calling your cave Arrow cave is totally plagiarism of the Batcave.

-This is my cave. I’m Green Arrow. How do you want me to call it?

-Quiver. Cassandra said

-Oh! This is an awesome idea!

-Not mine. Harley’s.

-Not sure if I should be comfortable that you talk about me with your psychopath villain.

-She needs to be heard.”

Seeing Jason relaxed laughing with the other, Roy smiles tenderly at him and put his hand on Jason’s knee. Jason doesn’t even hesitate when he see Roy’s gaze and kiss him lovingly.

“Love you.

-Love you too.”

It was past midnight. The younger ones are asleep in the couple’s bedroom, or in Damian case sprawl on the couch. They had finish to eat an hour ago and they all compliment Jason for his cooking making him ferociously blush. After that, nobody acted like they will leave soon, so they drink coffee and tea.

“Oh! Before I forget.” Roy suddenly exclaim going out of the table

He comes back one minute later, with some money.

“Here.

-Thanks. But you give me too much. Jason said after he counts the bills.

Roy shrugs and kisses Jason’s neck.

“Buy you a book.”

Jason tenses when he heard a giggle.

“What?

-Nothing. Oliver tries to defend himself. Just funny to see that is my son the sugar daddy in this relationship.

Almost everyone in the table choke on their drink before they laugh.

“What the hell Ollie? Bruce said shocked

-What? That’s true.

-Fuck no. I am not a lubricious old man.

-Yet.

-And he doesn’t support me. I have money, thank you.

-Why did he give you some then? Ollie jokes

-I just lost my debit card. He advances me until my new one arrives.

-It’s not that stupid what Ollie said.

-Oh. And how so Dickhead?

-Well my darling Littlewing, you’re younger than Roy to begin.

-You’re the one who do the cooking and the cleaning.

-Yeah I should help you more with that.

-No thanks. I see how you tidy up your workshop; I don’t want that in the rest of the apartment.

-And at the last event you go together the entire people magazine was saying “Who is the mysterious trophy husband Roy Harper has found?”

-Well he is still legally dead. If he was still officially a Wayne and we go to a gala, I’m sure I will be the trophy husband.

-Not sure. Jason knows how to dress better than you Roy. I am sure he will still be the trophy husband.

-Father! Damian exclaims from the couch. It may be just Todd, but will you really let them talk about one of us like that?

-I love you too Demon Brat.

-I knew you care. Dick coos before trying to hug Damian

-No! Grayson! Don’t come closer!

-Well my mother used to say to never underestimate a trophy wife. Because they could easily have the world at their feet. Bruce said ignoring the mess his two sons are making in the living room

-I thought that your parents had the same age.

-My father was younger by one year and half. But my mom worked frequently with trophy wife for charity event.”

They start to talk about other things when a knock interrupt them. Everybody tense, slowly Jason goes to the door and look at the peephole.

“It’s one of our neighbors. Hi, sir. What can I do for you? Jason asks him after open the door

-Hi. Look, you’re good neighbor and normally I would have pas that but, I have to just come back from work and I have to go visit my family in another state today. Just, I really need to sleep so can you lower the sound.

-Of course. Jason looks at Dick and Damian stop during their wrestling. We will let you sleep. Sorry for that.

-Thank, good night.

-Good night to you too.

-Well seems like it’s time to go. Dinah said

-You’re sure?

-Yeah, it’s late. The kids are already asleep.

-We will go too. Bruce said

-Sure?

-Yeah. Thank for the invitation.”

They all said good bye at the door.

They kiss and promise to do that again soon. With Olivia in his arms, Oliver hugs first Roy then Jason.

“Thank to have invited us tonight.

-You’re welcome.

-And thanks for the dinner. He said hugging Jason. It must have taken a lot of work to prepare that meal for sixteen.

-That’s fine.” Jason answer a little startled by the demonstration of affection

Bruce is the last to leave their apartment.

“Sorry we bother your neighbor.

-Don’t worry about that. I’m surprised it’s happen only now.

-Take care of you.

-That’s work for you too.”

They both smile and for a moment, Jason think that Bruce may hugs him but he just go with the rest of the family.

“Well everything was great. Roy said starting cleaning the table. We worry for nothing.

-I was sure that Oliver and Bruce will make a scene. Jason adds helping Roy

-And when Ollie start saying I was your sugar daddy, Roy laughs, I prayed that Bruce doesn’t beat me.

-They’re completely crazy.

-And you and I make all this crazy people one and only one family.

-Have mercy on us.”

~*~

Some day later, Jason is taking his breakfast with Tim.

“Sound like RedArse isn’t trendy anymore. Jason said looking at the news on his phone. SuperRobin stole us the show.”

One video of Kon kissing passionately Tim on the top of a Gotham’s building was everywhere on social network.

“Shut up. Bruce already lectures about not being attentive and unprofessional.

-Please, tell me you ask him if it was professional to sleep with a burglar he is supposed to arrest.

-No. Tim laughs. But if you do, film his reaction.

-Promise. Jason said before go search for salt

-While you’re at it. Can you get me some blueberry? They must be in my fridge.”

Jason goes in the kitchen; if he found the salt easily he can’t say the same for the blueberry.

“Are you sure you have blueberry?

-Maybe I put it in one of my closet.

-Nope. No blueberry in sight. Jason confirms after open up twice each closet

-I must have forgotten to buy it. Thank anyway.”

Jason sit down and stop what he wanted to do because something looks wrong with his phone.

“Did you touch my phone?

-Yes, Tim admits after a pause, we take beat which kind of Roy’s photo you have as wallpaper.

-What do you mean which kind?

-You know. Kind Roy asleep, kind both of you kissing, kind sexy Roy or kind embarrassing for Roy.

-Well sorry to disappointed you.

-Yeah I didn’t expect a dog. You don’t have one, do you?

-It’s an old picture of the dog I had when I was a kid. Some weeks ago, Bruce found some of my family old photo on squat of junkies.

-Your dog was cute. What were they name?”

~*~

Jason’s day was pretty exhausting so he is happy when he found Roy sit on the couch. He fall on the couch, put his head on Roy’s knee.

“Hard day.

-Awful. This child trafficker I had to catch decides to make me run after him.

-He didn’t dare.

-He’s an asshole. I make sure that everyone at the jail will know what he did to children.

-You didn’t kill him?

-No, he has some information that could be useful to save more kids and anyways Bruce is on this case too.

-Well I hope this could make you feel better.”

Only now, Jason see the little box with a golden ribbon on the table.

“What is it?

-Well it is for you so open up.

-If I’m not a lucky boy.”

In the little box, there are diamond cufflinks. Usually Jason think that diamond jewelries are too flashy but the one Roy choose are discreet. And Roy looks at him so hopefully that even if he didn’t like it, he couldn’t tell him that.

“That’s beautiful.

-You love it?

-Yeah. Thank you.

-Since there is this gala where we have to go, I though cufflinks was a good idea.

-That’s perfect. Thank you so much.”

Jason kisses him deeply sitting in his lap.

“And I think I should make you a lucky boy too.

-No need. If you’re too tired, I can understand.

-I am in good shape.”

Jason takes Roy’s shirt away before kisses him languorously.

~*~

“That’s new? Selina asks him at the gala looking interested by Jason’s cufflinks

-Yes. And gift from Roy so if you can let me leave with them I will appreciate it.

-Everything to make you happy kitten.”

Jason doesn’t like Selina’s smile but as she say she doesn’t stole him so maybe it was something else.

~*~

Jason is with the Bird of Prey. He needs their help on a case and they are kind enough to at least listen to what he has to say.

“Sound reasonable. Barbara admits

-I’m a reasonable man.

-I want you to promise you will not using anything I will give you for kill someone.”

Jason sight loudly. Honestly this kind of rich guy he was after for the corruption case was the kind he prefers dead. But if he successes make them lost all their fortune that will be enough.

“I promise.

-Good, give me your phone, I will transfer you all the data we have in this case.

-And we will tell you if we see something during patrol. Helena adds. But only if you don’t hide anything.

-I’m not B. If I say I want work with you, it means I will work with you and not using you while keeping secrets. I’m sure Babs already takes all the info I had on my phone, and we will stay in contact.

-I’m done with your phone. Barbara said and gives it him back

-Thanks.

-No, thanks to you.”

Jason shivers unexpectedly. He has a weird feeling suddenly. But the girls are nice and he will not accuse them of something just because a draught make him feels weird.

~*~

Some hours later, he meets Roy at the dinner they both like. They couldn’t see each other for the next days because of their jobs so they decide have a date. So the separation will be less difficult.

“How was your day? Jason asks him after kissing him quickly and takes place at the table.

-Better now that I see you.

-What will you do without me?

-I will get to know an old friend again. Roy jokes shaking his right hand

-Jeez, why did I love you again? Jason laughs after he kicks Roy under the table

-Well, I hope this could help you regain your memory.” Roy said putting a box out of his vest once their order taking by the waiter

Again, Jason thinks surprised. But he is touched by the gesture.

“I have nothing for you. Jason admits embarrassed

-That’s not a problem. It’s a gift as much for you than for me.”

Jason looks at him suspiciously. The little grin Roy had makes him suspect the worst, but they are on a public space, with some kids around, Roy wouldn’t dare offer him something to …suggestive, right?

Cautiously, Jason opens the box and found what seem to be two diamonds earrings.

“Oh, I’m just pierced at the right ear. Jason said confused

-You have an ear pierced? Roy asks amazed

-I was fourteen years old. It was after a fight with Bruce. It was stupid. Jason feels the obligation to defend himself

-Sound like a conversation for another day. Roy said feeling his partner’s embarrassment. Anyway, that aren’t earrings, but yes, that are piercing.

-Ah … Ah! Jason exclaims touching his chest when he understand that they are for his nipples. Do you mind if I go quickly in the bathroom to wear my gift.

-Do you think you could send me a photo? I’m not sure I could wait till we get home.

-Deal.”

They wanted to kiss rapidly but that seems like they can get enough of each other.

“I should go before we’re not PG anymore.” Jason said before leaving in a hurry

Roy sights looking dreamily at Jason while he walks away.

He thanks the waiter when he comes back with their orders, maybe not as much as he thanks the entity who brings Jason and him together. He really doesn’t understand how he gets so lucky.

His phone beeps and he sees the picture send by Jason.

Obviously, he was on the toilet. He holds his shirt so not only his chest was visibly but also his gorgeous abs. Roy is almost certain that Jason put down a little his jean too. Roy could swear he fell a little more in love because of the way the four little diamonds shine as much as the mischievous gaze he had. And not only, Jason’s grin promises an unforgettable night, but he also gently bites his lower lips exactly how Roy likes.

“Must be the first time I can’t wait to say good bye ;)” Jason wrote as commentary and Roy could only agree.

~*~

Months later, despite how terrible their mission could have ended, Roy and Jason is together asleep in their bed. Neither of them want to moves and they both cry and moan like babies when a ring wakes them up.

“Jay. Roy groans. That your phone …

-Fuck. Who is the asshole calling me this earlier?

-It is two p.m. Master Jason. Alfred answer hearing the question Jason asks

-Sorry Alfie. But with all my respect we go to bed at six a.m.

-I prefer that it’s that. We were supposed to see each other today. Did you forget?

-Fuck. I totally did. Jason admits. Let me one hour and I come.

-No need to. I just wanted be sure that you were alright.

-But I want eat your delicious pie. One hour. I’m coming.

-Very well. See you soon.

-See you soon.

-You abandon me. Roy jokes half asleep

-For Alfred’s cooking, I will leave you without a hesitation.

-I should be angry but I could sell you too for his cooking. Bring me a piece.

-If I don’t eat all.”

Jason kisses Roy’s forehead before he fell asleep again. Jason goes take a quickly shower, drinks some coffee and wears clean clothes. Then he drives his motorcycle to the coffee shop he have to meet Alfred.

“Sorry to be late. Jason said sitting

-Next time send me a message, if you can’t come.

-I’m here, right? I could came.”

Alfred say nothing to that. He doesn’t need to, just his unimpressed look at Jason tells him enough.

“Promise, next time I will text you.

-Thank you.”

They order their drinks and talk a little about everything. How life is at the Manor, about books they had read or some TV show they had watch.

Suddenly, Alfred takes Jason’s wrist looking curiously at the watch Jason wears. Simple watch with some diamonds around the dial.

“Gift from Mister Roy? Alfred asks

-Yeah. Jason smiles. I don’t how but he always finds some flashy gifts that are in my taste anyway.

-It was for a particular reason?

-No. I don’t think so.

-Did he buy it to you the same day where you help Miss Stephanie with her homework?

-I don’t remember. Yeah, I think he did. Why? Fuck! Do you

think I forget an anniversary or something like that? Jason starts to panic

-I think you should ask to Mister Roy why he buys you this gifts.”

Jason doesn’t understand this little smile Alfred have on his face. One second before he sounded like he was upset, though.

But despite what Alfred like to think, Jason knows him as much as Alfred know him. So he doesn’t try to force Alfred to tell him what’s happening in his brain exactly.

~*~

Jason wanted to listen to Alfred’s advice but life happen and he didn’t have time to talk about that with Roy.

Until one day where things go crazy.

Jason is cooking the dinner. Something simple and easy to do because he spend all the day with Selina, doing shopping and watching some telenovela, and he is tired.

Roy enters in their apartment, kisses him in the neck.

“Hi Jaybird. Roy said with a smile

-Hi yourself. Jason answers kissing him

-Hope it was you wanted. You were pretty specific this time.”

Jason frowns, don’t understand what Roy mean. He takes the large box Roy gives him. Curiously, with apprehension.

He almost choke when he sees what is inside.

“What’s the fuck, Roy? This is too much!” Jason can’t help himself and exclaims

There is a kind of Napoleon Diamond Necklace. But with more diamonds than the original who can cover easily Jason’s neck and shoulder. The worst is all the diamonds are real.

Jason can’t accept that. Even if it was a copy, it’s not Jason’s taste. But mostly it must cost a little fortune to Roy. How in hell did he thought it will be a good idea to offer him this?

“Really? I was afraid it would be not enough.

-Not … What the hell Roy? Why did you buy me this?

-Because you asking me. Roy answers perplexed

-Asking you? No!

-Well yes. I still has your text.

-My text?

-Jaybird, your dish burn.

-Shit!”

Jason give back the box to Roy so he can save what he’s cooking. Roy frowning sit in the kitchen, put the box on the table and search Jason’s message.

When the dish were save, Jason sit down next to Roy and look at his phone too.

“I didn’t send you a text. Jason confirm

-Look by yourself.” Roy retort showing the text

“Hi, my archer. Can you buy me the most fabulous Napoleon Diamond Necklace you can find? I will make sure it is worth it *winks*”

“What the …?”

It was his number. No doubt for that.

“I didn’t send you this text. Jason say again then he remember his conversation with Alfred. Wait. Did you receive a text like that every time you buy me a jewelry? Did you received a text tell you to buy me nipple piercing?

-Well no. Roy answer started by Jason’s hysteria. That’s the first time you were explicit about what you want.

-It wasn’t me!

-Ok. So who it was?

-Show me the date and hour you received this texts.”

Quickly, they realize that Tim send Roy a text for the cufflinks, Barbara for the piercings, Stephanie for the watch and Selina for the necklace. Every time they send to Roy a message telling something like Jason was feeling sad and diamonds could help him feel better and he will make sure to show to Roy how grateful he was.

“I’m going to kill them. Jason groans while Roy laugh

-Why? This is funny.

-No it’s not! I’m sure it’s because of Oliver’s stupid remark! How much money did you waste because of them?

-It’s not wasted. If I recall correctly you make it worthy I buy you this.

-Fuck! I’m really the trophy husband here. Jason groans embarrassed. I will give you back all the jewelries, so you can be refund.

-Why? No. Except for the necklace you like them, right?

-Yeah but I don’t like that you waste your money because of a stupid joke.

-It’s not a waste.

-Give back at least the necklace. How much did it cost you?

-Nope and it’s rude to ask how much a gift cost.

-Roy, I’m serious.

-Me too. Look, can I at least see you wearing it? Before you throw it in some deep closet.”

Jason suspiciously at Roy before he realizes.

“It’s make you horny that I’m your trophy husband, isn’t it?

-I’m weak man. Roy admits with a smile. It’s just … it’s been a while since you didn’t wear the nightie you buy for Valentine Day. Could be the occasion.

-I’m starting to think that you knew it was a joke.

-I swear I’m an innocent victim here. Doesn’t mean I should take an opportunity when I saw one.

-You’re the worst. Jason smiles amused

-It’s that a no?

-It’s that a yes. But I’m still killing them.

-Don’t be such killing joke, Jaybird. Roy kisses him passionately. Fuck them.

-I was thinking you will fuck me.

-Yeah that too.”

They laugh and make sure that this joke make at their expense become their best night.

Tomorrow, Jason will find a way to avenge Roy and his self-esteem.

#dc comics #jayroy #jason todd #roy harper #my fic

20 notes · View notes

lethesomething · 6 years

Text

A note on fictional jobs

There's a joke that all fanfic characters are either baristas, teachers, lawyers or some denizen of the tattoo/florist au set. This isn't really fully true (there's also witches and vampire hunters!) but for anyone going for a realistic setting, let me at least, as someone who has worked a number of jobs in media, software development and catering, give some pointers on how that stuff works, because dear lord does Hollywood get it wrong.

This post is 2k words, so under the cut it goes.

Journalism/Photography/Media

General tips

This sector seems to be pretty popular in old school comics, and for good reason. Clark Kent gets to go out into the city and be near events. It's a job women are historically allowed to do (and be sassy in) and even Peter Parker gets to just traipse around the city getting into adventures.

It must also be noted that all these characters were developed in the first half of the 20th century, and media has changed a lot since then.

If your character is a journalist, they will work long hours and not be paid *that* much. Carrie Bradshaw is the most unrealistic journalist character in the history of everything. Especially after, oh, 2010 or so, when the traditional press sales really started declining. No journalist is that well paid for that little. And none will have that much free time.

Journalists generally have a beat, and what they do and know heavily depends on that. Your character can get into the gritty streets of downtown chasing drug dealers, or they can go to theatre premieres. They won't do both. The Vast Majority of modern media have beats. A person can be a sports caster and then he will go to sports events to report them. They can be a jetset reporter or restaurant reviewer and go to swanky places. They can be a cultural reporter and be invited to premieres and shows. They can be a dedicated business journalist, reporting on IT, or cardboard logistics, or whatever, and go to conferences around the world. But they will rarely be all these things at once.

How wide this beat is, depends heavily on the 'range' of the medium. Big news rooms, like NYTimes, have a lot of journalists, and some very, Very specialised ones. This is deep dive, spend weeks trailing every leak out of the White House stuff. In contrast, a small regional tv station can have their reporter (with or without a camera man and sound tech) drive around the countryside reporting on pumpkin carving festivals one day, and grisly murder the next.

A lot also depends on the medium. If the character works for a newspaper, they will have a noon to eight shift as a writer, and a two to ten shift, most likely, as an editor, because papers need to get printed overnight. If it's a weekly or a monthly print mag, there will be a few days with relative freedom to do interviews and such, and then a few days of crunch time. If they work for a news website they will have a desk job and most likely work in shifts. TV and radio news people are the ones doing most of the running around to get quotes, but they are also on the tightest of schedules.

Speaking of schedules. Unless the character is a blogger, they won't finish an article and immediately rush it to the printer/publish it. Reputable news sources have, at the very least, a copy editor to check for mistakes and typos. Bigger newspapers and magazines and sites have a dedicated fact checker.

Very VERY few papers in the world have full time photographers on the payroll. If your character is a photographer, they will most likely be a freelancer and do corporate events or weddings on the side (sorry Peter Parker). What happens is, a medium will decide in advance which article or interview will require a picture, and book a photographer for that piece.

Any other pictures tend to come from news agencies. Think Reuters or Associated Press. These sort of agencies do use full time photographers, as well as freelancers who happen to visit an event. They'll take like two hundred picture and sell them to the agency, who distributes them to media all over the world.

Few media have the money for correspondents, so they'll pick only a handful. This means a foreign correspondent has a large area to cover. European news media tend to have one correspondent in the US, covering the Entire US, for instance. American media tend to have more moneys, but if your character is a respondent in, say India, expect them to trek along India a lot, because they're prob the only one in that vast country.

Having said that, coverage, especially war coverage, is super expensive. If they're sending a journo to a war zone, it will absolutely not be a rookie. They will have proven themselves capable, preferably speak the language and they'll be Very Prepared. Think local guides, vast networks of informants etc. A startling amount of war reporters and investigative journalists are also freelance. If they are trekking through a jungle and come across anything exciting, you bet they'll try to sell that story in several angles/versions to different media.

Have you considered:

Bread and Butter Freelancers: It's a gig economy my friends. Freelance writey people don't have a boss and usually work from home or from some coffee shop. If they are to be successful (enough to make a living), they'll still have a beat, and will actually have to be fairly good at this subject. Since these characters make their own shifts, they do have the ability to go out in the middle of the day to do superheroing or witchery or to investigate the disappearance of their best friend. Upsides: Freedom. Downsides: Usually very little money. Unstable hours, like one day nothing and then a week of 14 hour days. The crushing stress of looming deadlines ànd job insecurity.

Copywriters: The people that write the text on corporate websites, that fill mail order catalogues with entries for every picture, compose newsletters for various organisations, turn technical instructions into actually mildly readable user manuals. Upside: money. If they're good at it, they will have a fairly stable income. They have the same freedom as freelancers to go flirt with flower shop assistants. Downside: the crushing knowledge that with every piece you write, your soul sinks deeper into the void. Anyone who's ever read clientsfromhell will know what to expect of their clientele.

Lay-outers: The creative side of making media. The bros making the graphs, putting the text to paper, photoshoping the head of Putin onto the body of a baby, whatever. Upside: artist character. This is a slightly more realistic character than the 'painter'. They're creative, but they have yet to sell their soul to the corporate machine (depending on the medium you put them in, of course). Downside: this is basically a desk job with stable hours.

Cameraman, sound technician: the people that hang out with the news reporter and trot all over the region with him/her. Upside: see the world! Without being instantly recognizable. Downside: they're probably stuck in their mission and they rarely have the power to go 'hey, let's investigate over there'.

Software development

General tips

There's actually a few different environments for software engineers to work.

Start-ups: the hip one. Think Silicon Valley, the upstarts in sneakers and Star Wars t-shirts living on pizza and red bull and basically coding 20 hours a day. Depending on where they are in the growth of their start-up, these people will be nearly alone, or have a team of coworkers. Traditionally, start-ups start with like a founder (or four) and an idea, and some coding. As the company grows they'll hire a sales person to sell this stuff, a marketing manager to brand it, a support person to troubleshoot it, an HR person, etc.

A very Very VERY large part of start-up business is pitching, aka selling your premise to a bunch of venture capitalists and investors. It's Dragon's Den. Literally. Your super shy, autism spectrum character who hates public speaking and who can't even look at another person without blushing would make a super crappy start-up founder by themselves. They will definitely need their bubbly, motivational speaker best friend. On the other hand: this is an amazing environment for that suave, smooth talking character who could sell sand in the desert.

Second environment: corporate. The vast majority of software engineers out there just work for some big company. These are the people building and deploying management system software for banks, installing security in factories, that sort of thing. A lot of the time they're consultants. They wear a suit. They use something called the Waterfall method, which sucks out your soul, or the Agile method, which also sucks out your soul. There's a lot of managing and meeting and progress reports. If they're good enough, they're allowed to leave the tie at home.

Software needs to be tested. You don't just write the code last minute and put it live.

The coders are absolutely not the only people in a software development team. There's the project managers, the designers, the copywriters, the testers, the lawyers, oh god, the lawyers, etc.

Software Needs to be tested. It takes ages. I cannot stress this enough. It usually happens in India or some other Asian country where the wages are lower.

Will a lot of environments, even corporate, allow their creatives to come to work in like… jeans and a t-shirt, the only people realistically allowed to actually act like teenagers, in any environment (corporate, start-up, small business), are the ones with skills that are very hard to find. In essence: security experts and specifically white hat hackers. Yes, you're allowed to have a hacker character that acts dumb and comes to work in his pyjamas and it will be realistic that he does not get fired. Your clerk character that's super rude and deals in hurtful quips? Not so much.

SOFTWARE NEEDS TO BE TESTED

Have you considered:

Researchers: you know those people that made a song that can give Alexa commands without the owner knowing? Those are university researchers. A lot of really cool stuff is being developed not by office workers, but at universities. This includes software. Upside: probably a looser environment, with a lot of young people. Downside: you're basically writing a college AU.

Venture capitalists: in a Silicon Valley environment, this is basically the 'wealthy businessman' stereotype of old. The dragons in the dragon's den, the people that traipse around the city talking to people and assessing the potential of their pitch, before throwing money at them (or not). There's a bunch of paperwork, but they probably have a small army of accountants to handle this.

Evangelists: the cool people that hold TED talks. They usually work for a big tech company, as a specialist, and part of their job is to be a spokesperson. A good example of this is the tech researcher, who has a day job finding nasty hackers or viruses, and who also blogs about that and holds talks and presentations about securing your business. A character like this has the advantage of being a deep tech nerd hacker type. They're rarely the CEO, so they can go deep into the coding, while also travelling places and meeting crowds of press or business people.

Project managers: these don't tend to do the actual coding, but they do, well, the managing. Characters like this will be more social and creative, they're the ones making the reports and presenting their progress to the CEO, and they're the ones troubleshooting when stuff goes wrong. In general, there's a lot of planning involved.

Bakeries/Catering

General tips

Mass production of food is gruelling. You think you're writing about your sexy pastry chef and how they're carefully, tip of their tongue peeking through their lips, putting a cherry on top of that little moeilleux, but in reality, there's two hundred more to finish on this rack alone and they need to be done in under an hour.

Say it with me, people: baking is a night job. Industrial baking, mom-and-pop rural French bakery, bagel shop, donuts. Someone is going to be making all that stuff before the first customer arrives and that someone is slaving in front of a hot oven at four in the morning.

Any type of catering is a time management business. You know this. You've all watched Great British Bake-off (or, like, Chopped or whatever). If your professional cake maker is only working on one project/wedding at a time, they're not going to be in business for long. Your line chef will be plating up several dishes per minute. Your short order cook is baking six pancakes and scrambling eggs at the exact same time.

Unless it's a very large kitchen, the people that cook are the same ones that clean. And since it's food prep, there is a lot of cleaning.

Have you considered:

Recipe writer: ok so we're kinda back to media but big tv chefs don't make all those recipes themselves. Someone, usually a freelancer, writes them and tests them. Imagine someone getting the request to develop a seasonal cronut recipe that involves peaches and charcoal, because it's hip, and then baking several batches until they find something edible. This is a somewhat realistic environment for your super creative baker to live in a small house and make some money while also working on a book on the side, and falling in love with the quirky … goat… herd… brewer, florist, whatever.

#writing resources #also salt #possibly #fanfic

115 notes · View notes

romioneflufffest · 7 years

Text

Simple Pleasures

Author: @idearlylovealaugh

Prompt: Diagon Alley, date night

Description: Where better to celebrate a special occasion than the fanciest restaurant in town?

Rating: T

The atmosphere at Le Cochon Peint justified its reputation as the most fashionable and hard-to-come-by reservation in Diagon Alley. On a Saturday night in June almost every table was occupied by elegantly dressed witches and wizards, and a number of those heads turned as a young, attractive couple was shown to a table in nearly the exact center of the restaurant. The man, tall and strikingly ginger, pushed in the chair of his petite, bushy-haired companion in an unobtrusive display of chivalry before taking his seat amid the buzz of interested chatter from diners seated nearby.

“Quite the place,” Ron remarked, glancing around as the napkin in front of him sailed elegantly into the air, unfolded itself from it’s complicated swan design and drifted neatly onto his lap.

“It’s lovely,” Hermione agreed, smiling at him warmly. “I’m so glad we finally made it here. I’ve been hearing about it for months!”

“Seems like the right kind of place for an anniversary dinner,” he reasoned. “These posh drinks are alright, really,” he added thoughtfully, swirling around a ruby-coloured concoction he had ordered at the swanky bar in the restaurant’s lobby.

“That bartender thought you were quite alright, too, I think,” Hermione replied slyly.

“She was just being friendly,” Ron scoffed, though his ears pinked ever-so-slightly. “And she got a lot friendlier after she heard me give my name to the bloke at the front,” he added skeptically.

“The maître d’,” Hermione supplied automatically.

Ron smiled knowingly at her as he shook his head. “Right.”

“Besides, I doubt she needed to hear your name to know who you are,” she conjectured.

“The red hair I’ll grant you, but these robes are brand-new!” he joked. His eyes glowed with warmth as he watched her laugh. “Have I told you how bloody gorgeous you look tonight?”

She flushed, feeling slightly absurd to be so pleased. “Yes, but you also told me that last week after I went twelve rounds with Crookshanks and the bath, so I’m not sure I trust your judgement.”

“Hmmmm, I stand by that statement,” he mused, regarding her appraisingly.

“You’re ridiculous - I was drenched!” Hermione cried in amusement, remembering the soaked and disheveled state she had been in.

“Exactly,” he replied, mischief in his eyes. “I….”

“Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, what a delight!”

A booming voice cut him off as a florid man in ostentatious golden robes planted himself beside their table. Hermione glanced around self-consciously as he heartily shook Ron’s hand and feigned an elaborate kiss on her own. Every head in the restaurant seemed to have swiveled in their direction and was watching the scene with interest. “I have the honor to be the proprietor of Le Cochon Peint and please allow me to say that we are so, so gratified to have you dine with us this evening, and we hope that everything is to your express liking. If either of you have a particular appetite tonight, please permit me to communicate it to the chef. He will be more than happy to cater to your every whim.”

Hermione, still caught off guard, demurred. “Oh no, I’m sure the regular menu is…”

“We want to make sure we have the pleasure of your patronage again. Perhaps we could have a quick snap for our Wall of Fame?”

A slender, nimble man appeared to materialize out of thin air by his elbow and before they were fully aware of what was happening, they were enveloped in a explosive puff of purple smoke, the cameraman deftly slipping away with what was assuredly a picture of a supremely dumbstruck Ron and Hermione.

“Fantastic,” the manager beamed. “And when you return, perhaps you would be inclined to bring a friend? A very close and well-known friend?” he finished with an insinuating smile. And with one more effusive “Fantastic!” he was gone in a swirl of shimmering fabric.

Ron and Hermione could only gape at each other for a moment, before Ron set his jaw angrily.

“That was …”

“Ridiculous,” she supplied, shielding her burning face with the leather-bound menu.

“That’s not what I was going to say,” Ron grumbled under his breath, still glaring in the direction the manager had retreated.

“Good thing Harry isn’t with us, can you imagine what that man would’ve done?” she giggled.

“Yeah, probably would’ve dropped on all fours and started licking his boots,” Ron snorted.

“He was fairly horrid,” Hermione allowed, “but the food is supposed to be delicious.” She felt the heat leaving her cheeks as she put the encounter behind them. “Let’s just ignore it and enjoy ourselves. We haven’t been out in ages!”

Ron’s expression was still rather sour, but it lifted as a smart and blessedly discreet server came by to take their order. Moments later a small, round tray zoomed neatly to their table, hovering in midair as Ron took the two cocktails it was bearing and placed them on the table. They sipped their drinks as the tray soared back to the bar, banking a wide turn around a woman carrying a flaming entrée. Hermione was about to ask Ron what he thought he’d order when she noticed him looking down at something on the table with a frown on his face.

“Is everything alright?” she asked, concerned.

Ron looked up at her with wide eyes. “Switch me places,” he whispered urgently, glancing quickly over her shoulder. She turned to see what he had been looking at and he stood, pushing out his chair with a loud scrape.

She rose almost automatically, and he quickly ushered her around to the other side of the table, pushing in what was previously his chair as she sat.

“What was that about?” she asked, bemused, as he took her seat across from him.

“The bartender put her floo address on my napkin,” he muttered.

Hermione laughed. “I told you she fancied you!” she exclaimed. She leant to the side and was just able to catch a glimpse of the sleek blonde mixing drinks at the bar, ignoring Ron’s muted squawking not to look. “I’m beginning to think you have a special fondness for barkeeps,” she teased as she straightened up. “First Madame Rosmerta, and now this…”

“Very funny.” He was quiet for a moment, before looking at her intently. “Has it really been so long since I’ve taken you out?”

“ Oh Ron, I wasn’t complaining!” she reassured him. “Honestly, we’ve both been so busy.”

“Still…”

“It was really thoughtful of you to make the reservation, you know,” she put in, smiling to herself as he scoffed. He had always been so terrible at accepting compliments, a trait she found adorable and exasperating in equal measure. “And even more so because you made sure that they paid their kitchen elves fair wages.”

He snorted even as he deflected her praise. “Well, you know people still try to get out of it if they can.”

“It’s outrageous that we haven’t been able to pass that statute yet,” she frowned earnestly. “Former house elves have desirable, marketable skills, but unless we… I’m sorry,” she caught herself in exasperation. “I don’t want to talk about work all night,” she added, sliding her hand across the table toward him.

Ron grinned as he covered her small hand and with his own. “No mind. It doesn’t bother me, y’know.” He laughed as she raised a skeptical eyebrow, lacing their fingers together. “I always like it when you get all worked up.”

“Hmm, so that’s why you’re always trying to drive me mad.”

“Hermione,” he said in a deeply wounded tone. “Just trying?”

Her laughing retort was drowned out by a piercing, reedy voice accosting her from across the room.

“Ms. Granger-Weasley! Ms. Granger-Weasley! Oh, how lucky to run into you here!”

The startled look Hermione exchanged with Ron confirmed that the balding, bespectacled man bearing down on them was just as unknown to him.

“I’m sorry, Mr…. er…”

“Blunderman, Walter Blunderman,” he supplied. Hermione watched in disbelief as the man spotted a vacant chair at a neighboring table and drew it up between them. “It really is too lucky to have met you here, because I have this fantastic - well, revolutionary, really - idea, and what’s astonishing, truly astonishing, is how few people in the Ministry have been receptive to it.”

Hermione cringed internally as he continued to expound upon his pet project, completely oblivious to his audience’s mounting vexation. The man seemed capable of sustaining an astonishing flow of speech as she waited in vain for him to take a breath.

“…and with your name attached to it, it could hardly fail to succeed, wouldn’t you agree?” the man finally finished, looking between the two of them.

Sensing that Ron’s response was going to be decidedly south of proper, Hermione cut in quickly. “Mr. Blunderman, I appreciate your commitment to the concept, but my husband and I are here as private citizens and… oh look, our first course is here!” Hermione exclaimed, silently thanking the kitchen staff for their unknowingly impeccable timing. “I’m sure you’d be happy to continue this conversation on Monday during office hours, when I can give it the attention it so clearly deserves,” she added sweetly, leaving very little room for disagreement.

After a regrettable assurance to set up the first available appointment and a glance at Ron’s stony face, Mr. Blunderman beat a hasty retreat. With the table to themselves once more, Hermione exhaled.

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Why are you sorry? It’s him as should be apologizing,” Ron snorted. “Bloody nerve.” He looked down at their plates and sighed. “Bad timing, but I have to nip to the loo really quick, ok?”

“Of course!”

“You don’t have to wait for me to start,” he added as he slid out of his chair and set off for the restroom.

Despite Ron’s urging, she didn’t feel as if it’d be right to start without him, so she contented herself with studying the plates that had be set in front of them. The food was elegantly and artfully arranged (not that there was very much of it, but still). Tasteful string music played low in the background, but now that she was alone she couldn’t help hearing her and Ron’s names repeated often in the conversations floating around her. She was uncomfortably aware of eyes on her as she took a sip of her drink and then folded her hands in her lap. It didn’t seem safe to look anywhere, as every face she glanced at seemed to be looking directly at her.

She was wishing that they had been placed at a more secluded table (although she had a strong suspicion that they were intentionally not) when it occurred to her that Ron was taking much longer in the men’s room than she could ever remember. Hoping he wasn’t feeling unwell, she turned slightly to look in the direction of the restrooms and was startled to see Ron emerge from the corridor, ears blazing red and a mortified expression on his face.

“Ron, what…!”

Ron seemed to struggle for words as he retook his seat. “Three women - ambushed me outside of the men’s!” he whispered agitatedly, looking around. “They wanted my autograph, and when I told them - nicely, y’know - that I was just out for a quiet night and turned to leave, one reached around and grabbed my… my…” He widened his eyes and jerked his head toward his lap expressively.

Hermione’s burgeoning amusement was immediately supplanted by a surge of white-hot fury. “Which woman?” she hissed, looking around. “Point her out!”

“I don’t see her! And I don’t bloody want to,” he added emphatically. He raked a hand through his hair, blowing out a frustrated breath. “You know what? Let’s get out of here.”

“And go home?” she asked as she rose, somewhat crestfallen. Though the restaurant had shaped up to be a bit of a disaster - and as much as she loved spending time with Ron in their flat - she had been looking forward to their night out together and was loathe for it to end so quickly.

“No, not home,” he replied, digging into his pocket and dishing a pile of shining coins onto the crisp linen. “That should more than cover it,” he said. “C’mon.”

She took his hand, grabbing her wrap from the back of her chair before letting him lead her back through the artful lighting and tasteful music and into the warm June night. _____________________________________________

“This is amazing,” Hermione raved. “This is honestly the best chippy I’ve ever had.”

Ron hummed his agreement, grunting with pleasure as he crunched into another gorgeous piece of fried fish. He had draped his robes over the back of the bench and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt to the elbow. Hermione passed him a paper napkin and he grinned a thank-you as he took it with oil-slick fingers. She gazed out at the river as she bit into another steaming hot chip, enjoying the light breeze and twinkling lights of the city.

“How did you ever know about this place?” she asked idly.

“Your dad, actually.”

Her eyes snapped to him in surprise, but he was rooting around in the newspaper for another chip. “My dad? But I’m quite sure I’ve never been here. When did you ever come here with my father?”

Ron took his time swallowing before he replied. “Day we got married. So, three years ago exactly.”

Hermione’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding!”

“Nope,” he answered with a smack of his lips. Realizing that she wasn’t going to be satisfied without the full story, he continued. “It was sometime that morning - blokes don’t take that long to get ready, you know? So there was rather a lot of time just sitting around and thinking.” “Not always the best situation for you,” she teased affectionately.

“Alright, alright,” he laughed. “But… yeah, actually. And people were coming in and out - my brothers, and Harry and my dad, but there was one moment where they must’ve been out helping with stuff, and your dad came in. And he took one look at me and I think he could tell that I was in a rough way with nerves.”

“What?! You said you never were!”

“I said I wasn’t nervous about marrying you,” he clarified. “I knew I wanted to marry you for yonks. But I was nervous as hell about you marrying me.”

She peered up at him through narrowed eyes. “That’s very sneaky,” she commented.

“Well either way, I’m telling you now,” he replied mildly. “I was really bloody nervous about messing up the vows, or the rings… or of being a rubbishy husband generally,” he continued seriously. “You know, I always want you to have the best, and there were just a lot of ways I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to give that to you.”

“Ron…”

“Anyway, your dad saw me looking like I was about to Keep for my first Gryffindor match and he took me here. Said there was nothing to settle a bloke’s stomach like greasy fish and chips, and that this was the best place in London to do it. I reckon he was right on both counts. And we talked a bit, about life and marriage and stuff like that.”

“I can’t believe you’ve never told me!” Hermione exclaimed, shaking her head in wonder. The mental image of Ron and her father sat on this same bench, having a heartfelt conversation in their formalwear, was making her feel decidedly emotional.

“Well, it was a bit personal,” he said good-humouredly. He paused. “But it was the moment I really felt like I’d be a part of your family. I mean, your dad asked me to apparate us to London, and you know they don’t like traveling that way. It took some trust. I just felt better, after that.” He looked down at her intently. “And then when I saw you coming down the aisle, I wasn’t worried about being a good husband, because I knew I’d do anything on earth to make you happy.”

There was no way she could resist kissing him at that point, and all the fishy grease in the world wasn’t going to stop her. Her fingers twisted into the front of his button-up as she pulled him closer, savoring the warmth of his lips and the feeling of his large hand cradling the back of her head. She pressed her forehead to his for a moment as they broke apart, thanking the universe that she had this man to share her life with.

The night was warm and pleasant, but she snuggled into his side all the same.

“I think we should come here for every anniversary,” she sighed contentedly.

Ron wrapped his arm more tightly around her, resting his chin on her curls. “Well, I was going to take you to Paris next year, but if you insist…”

She laughed for what felt like the hundredth time that evening. There was no one that could make her feel as free and happy as Ron, in any situation - no matter how ridiculous. Free and happy and safe and loved. It was amazing, when she really stopped to think about it, and it deserved to be celebrated every chance they got.

“You know, it’s almost a shame that we decided not to exchange gifts,” she remarked, casually stroking her hand up and down his toned forearm.

“Why’s that?”

“Because the traditional gift for a third anniversary is leather.”

Against her will, the corners of her mouth pulled up of their own accord as she sensed his eyes boring into her. She finally gave in and looked up at him, seeing his mischievous grin mirror her own.

“I think we can work something out.”

#Romione #Ron and Hermione #Romione Fluff Fest #romioneflufffest #Fic #submission

121 notes · View notes